In the reaction to Gorman's death Friday morning at 82, the current Boston Red Sox general manager said that cherished World Series title had the former GM's name on it, too.

"He built some great teams. He's probably most remembered for the 1986 Red Sox team, which with any luck would have broken the curse,'' Epstein said.

"When we won it in 2004, it was for all those players who could not quite get that last out. But it was for Lou, too.''

Gorman was the Red Sox general manager from 1984 to 1993. His death was caused by congestive heart failure, ending a year-long battle with various health problems.

His nephew, Tom Dougherty, was quoted in media reports that Gorman was trying to hang on until Opening Day, and succeeded.

Saluted for his baseball passion and acument, Gorman was even more recalled for his humanity. No one in the Red Sox organization was more well-liked, mostly because Gorman was so warm to those around him.

"He was one of the classiest men I ever met,'' Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy said.

"He had great knowledge of baseball, obviously, but he was also a class act. He always had a smile for everybody.''

Red Sox upper management had similar tributes.

"Lou Gorman was a legendary figure in the game of baseball. Over the course of a career that spanned five decades, Lou helped to build winning teams across the sport, including the 1986 American League champion Red Sox,'' Red Sox owner John Henry said.

"Above all else, Lou was a profoundly decent man who always had a kind word and an optimist's spirit.''

"Lou Gorman was first and foremost a gentleman: kind, warm, decent and positive. He treated everyone with dignity and saw everyone he encountered as a potential friend,'' Red Sox CEO and president Larry Lucchino said.

"They just don't make them like Lou Gorman. That is not a cliche, it is historical fact.''

Gorman was serving as a Red Sox executive consultant at his time of death.

"The Red Sox are a worse organization because Lou is gone,'' Epstein said.

Boston's 1986 World Series loss came to the Mets, a team Gorman, a Rhode Island native, had helped build before coming to Boston.

His career was one of helping build mediocre teams into contenders. Gorman worked with the Orioles and Royals, as well as the Mets, and helped Kansas City emerge from expansion status to prominence.

In the 1970s, he was the first general manager of the expansion Seattle Mariners.